Passing The Torch

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 19:09

Origionaly posted on 28/10/2002

Dear Friends:

After much thought, I have decided to retire from active Zen Judo training and teaching by the end of this year. When we got permission from Mac to open a club in America back in 1991 I promised him that we would put Zen Judo on the map here. After 11 years of hard work I feel we've accomplished that. We have a small, but dedicated black belt association (Yudanshakai), and our Zen Judo clubs have been offering a traditional alternative to sports Judo in this country for a good while. So it is time to take stock and also to trust that the next generation of American Zen Judoka will keep the flame burning...

My reasons for retiring are both personal and professional. From a personal standpoint I've always believed that there is no greater wisdom in an athlete than to retire at the top of his/her game. It doesn't mean you don't play any more. It means you do it under different conditions. I can continue to grow in the art, of course, but I feel that I have officially given American Zen Judo my best years on the mat as a player.

Professionally, after my son goes out to college I will have a chance to try and move up in my academic career. In order to do that I have to produce a higher caliber of research and that will require undivided attention on my part at least for the next five years. Those years will determine where I will end up probably until my retirement from university work (hopefully another 20 years or so from now). The time to start cranking out the research for me is now. I have a very small window of opportunity.

In terms of our association things will not change much. Our black belts will continue to decide policy at our meetings by simple vote. I am, however, nominating Sensei Chris Flinn as the official contact person for American Zen Judo. Chris has done an outstanding job as a Sensei in our Yudanshakai and with the help of the other black belts I am confident he will continue to make us proud in the way he walks the path with us. For contact purposes, Chris can be reached at American Zen Judo, @Aikido of Richmond, 2753 Hungary Springs Road, Richmond, VA 23294, or at 804 217-8211 or at ChrisFlinn@aol.com.

Needless to say, I will be available still to assist Chris and the other black belts on organizational matters -- gradings, promotions, creating training materials, for instance. But I believe the time has come for the next generation of American Zen Judoka to carry the art forward in the United States. I am grateful for the time I served the Zen Judo family and will always cherish the generous support I received in my Judo endeavors by all of you.

In Zen,
Keo

Sensei Keo Cavalcanti
American Zen Judo